Graphical data processor

ABSTRACT

A digital and analog signal responsive processor generates a visible display of alphanumerics, halftone, or vector information. The processor includes logic circuits for developing dynamic deflection fields in a display cathode-ray tube in response to a sequence of digital codes unique for a particular alphanumeric symbol such that the tube&#39;&#39;s electron beam is moved or scanned substantially only over the plurality of linear areas of the tube&#39;&#39;s screen which will collectively display the desired symbol. Additional circuitry is included to generate vectors of any length either at a uniform deflection velocity or during a uniform period of time. In addition, digital circuits are present which may reproduce halftone configurations in a dot-by-dot manner. Beam intensity and focus registers permit the alteration of these qualities of the electron beam as desired.

United States Patent [72} Inventor EdwinJ.Smura Webster. N.Y. [21] Appl. No 724,746 [22 Filed Apr. 29, 1968 [45] Patented July 20, 1971 (73] Assignec Xerox Corporation Rochester, N.Y.

[54] GRAPHICAL DATA PROCESSOR 3,480,943 11/1969 Manber ABSTRACT: A digital and analog signal responsive processor generates a visible display of alphanumerics, halftone, or vector information. The processor includes logic circuits for developing dynamic deflection fields in a display cathode-ray tube in response to a sequence of digital codes unique for a particular alphanumeric symbol such that the tubes electron beam is moved or scanned substantially only over the plurality of linear areas of the tubes screen which will collectively display the desired symbol. Additional circuitry is included to generate vectors of any length either at a uniform deflection velocity or during a uniform period of time. in addition, digital circuits are present which may reproduce halftone configurations in a dot-by-dot manner. Beam intensity and focus registers permit the alteration of these qualities of the electron beam as desired.

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CONVERTER JNVENTOR. EDWIN J. SMURA START A T TORNE VS 

1. A system for displaying symbol composed of parallel, closely spaced, constant length linear traces including: a. cathode-ray tube means responsive to deflection signals and black space signals and including an electron beam and display screen for generating visible traces; b. storage means for storing a binary data word, said data word including a plurality of code sections including at least one binary bit, a first section of said data word representing the length of one of said traces, a second section of said data word representing the number of traces necessary to constitute said symbol; c. first control circuit means responsive to said first code section for generating a black space signal representative of the length of said traces and a deflection signal of a magnitude to deflect said electron beam across said screen a distance proportional to said length of said traces; d. second control circuit means coupled to said first control circuit and responsive to said second code section for initiating said first control circuit operation once for each desired trace indicated by said second code section; and, e. means for coupling said black space and deflection signals to said display means.
 2. A system as defined in claim 1 including means for incrementing the starting point of each successive ones of said traces by a predetermined amount in a direction substantially perpendicular to the long dimension of said traces.
 2. decode means responsive to said fourth group for generating a start signal;
 3. integrator means responsive to said start signal and said third group for integrating signals corresponding to said horizontal and vertical velocity to produce deflection signals;
 3. A system for generating vectors in the form of visible traces comprising: a. cathode-ray tube display means including a deflection system, a beam control system, and a display screen; b. a horizontal velocity register adapted to receive binary data representing a predetermined horizontal velocity value and to provide an analog horizontal velocity output signal corresponding to said horizontal velocity value; c. a vertical velocity register adapted to receive binary data representing a predetermined vertical velocity value and to provide an analog vertical velocity output signal corresponding to said velocity value; d. horizontal end point register adapted to receive binary data representing a predetermined horizontal point on said screen and to provide an analog horizontal end point signal at its output; e. vertical end point register adapted to receive binary data representing a predetermined vertical point on said screen and to provide an analog vertical end point signal at its output; f. horizontal switch means for generating a first start signal in response to an initiate signal; g. vertical switch means for generating a second start signal in response to an initiate signal; h. integrator means responsive to said first and second start signals for integrating said analog horizontal and analog vertical output signals, respectively, resulting in horizontal deflection and vertical deflection signals, respectively; i. horizontal comparator means responsive to said analog horizontal end point signal and said horizontal deflection signal for generating a horizontal compare signal when said horizontal end point and said horizOntal deflection signals are substantially equal in magnitude; j. vertical comparator means responsive to said analog vertical end point signal and said vertical deflection signal for generating a vertical compare signal when said vertical end point and said vertical deflection signals are substantially equal in magnitude; k. means for terminating said first and second start signals in response to said horizontal and vertical compare signals, respectively; l. unblank control means responsive to the duration of either said first or second start signals for generating an unblanking signal; and, m. means for coupling said deflection signals to said deflection system and said unblanking signal to said beam control system.
 4. A system for processing and displaying graphical data comprising: a. cathode-ray tube display means including an electron beam, a deflection system, and a beam control system for generating visible traces on the display screen thereof; b. unblanking control means responsive to either a black space signal or a start signal for generating an unblanking signal coextensive in time with the black space or start signals; c. storage means for storing at least one sequence of binary data words corresponding to a particular symbol to be displayed, said symbol being composed of a plurality of visible, substantially parallel linear traces in its displayed form on said screen; d. photocompose means responsive to said data words for generating deflection signals and black space signals, said black space signals being generated substantially mutually inclusive with said deflection signals; e. vector control means for generating a visible linear trace on said display screen corresponding to a vector, said vector being defined by an initial point and a terminal point on said display screen, including
 4. comparator means responsive to said second group and the condition when the generated trace of said vector reaches said terminal point for terminating said start signal; f. first means for coupling said black space and start signals as they are generated to said beam control system; g. second means for coupling said deflection signals as they are generated to said deflection system.
 5. A system for displaying a symbol composed of parallel, closely spaced parallel traces of constant length, some of which are preceded by a predetermined amount of white space, comprising: a. cathode-ray tube display means including an electron beam, a deflection system, a beam control system for generating visible traces in response to black space and deflection signals; b. storage means for storing at least one binary data word, said word including a first section representing a predetermined amount of said white space, a second section representing said constant length, a third section representing the number of traces necessary to constitute said symbol; c. offset register means adapted to receive said first section for generating a deflection signal corresponding to said white space; d. control means for generating a black space signal and deflection signal corresponding to said second section; e. end scan means for generating an end scan signal at the termination of said black Space signal; f. repeat down counter means adapted to receive said third section for generating a repeat pulse each time said repeat down counter means is decremented, g. means coupling said end scan signal to said repeat down counter means for decrementing the contents thereof by one; h. means coupling said repeat pulse to said offset register means for accumulating said white space in said offset register means each time a trace is generated; i. means for coupling said deflection signals as they occur to said deflection system; and, j. means for coupling said black space signals to said beam control system.
 6. A system as defined in claim 5 further including increment means responsive to said end scan signal for incrementing the vertical position of one of said traces from the vertical position of said last generated trace.
 7. A symbol generator for displaying on the screen of a cathode-ray tube one of a plurality of symbols, said symbol being defined by a predetermined number of continuous visible linear traces substantially parallel to each other, some of said traces being adjacent to each other and of a uniform length, comprising: a. storage means for storing a sequence of binary data words corresponding to said one symbol, said sequence consisting of a number of data words which is less than the number of traces comprising said one symbol; b. cathode-ray tube display means responsive to deflection and black space signals for generating deflection fields within said display means and for unblanking the electron beam; c. graphical data processor means responsive to said data words for generating deflection signals and black signals unique for said one character, said black space signals being generated substantially mutually inclusive with said deflection signals; and, d. means for coupling said deflection signals and said black space signals to said cathode-ray tube display means. 